"This has been a very difficult decision for me," said Robinson in a statement announcing the closure. "However, as the owner/operator of two McDonald's restaurants, and a small business owner in Sault Ste. Marie for years, the economics did not justify keeping the restaurant open."

The Riverview Way McDonald's Restaurant, which nearly abuts the northern end of the I-500 Snowmobile Race property, presumably remained open to capitalize on one of its biggest weekends of the year as race fans streamed in and out of the facility for Big Macs, French fries, hot coffee and other assorted food and drink.

The site, just off the final U.S. off-ramp for the I-75 expressway and in close proximity to the campus of Lake Superior State University, was also a popular destination for Canadian-bound motorists and college students since first opening 18 years ago in 1994.

Robinson expressed her gratitude to the loyal customer base that had been established at the Riverview Way location and invited them to visit the I-75 Business Spur restaurant.

Those customers will also see some familiar faces at that location.

"I am very sensitive about how this will affect my employees and customers," said Robinson. "I care very much about them — I can assure you that all employees will be offered comparable jobs at our other Sault Ste. Marie location."